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BMW's UK MINI E Test Ends: Drivers Happy, But... Page 2

 
1,433 views Aug 5, 2011
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A question of balance

It's important to eliminate bias when analysing results such as these.

A survey by BMW on a BMW-built electric car on a BMW-run trial is likely neither to criticize the vehicle too heavily, nor put the car into any situation where it might struggle to cope with an owner's usage. With some big-budget electric BMWs in the pipeline, there's commercial interest in the vehicle appearing fit for purpose.

At the same time, you can argue that it was the perfect test, because at this stage, nobody is likely to buy an electric car if it doesn't suit their needs, so the people who do "go EV" already know they can live with one. Some car owners do huge distances every year and need a large car for  their families and paraphernalia, and they're obviously not going to choose an EV for the task. Many drivers just do short distances though and many others are part of two or more car families, and in both cases an EV may be perfect. If your daily commute is 25 miles then an EV with a 100-mile range offers far more than you need.

We're discovering that EV buyers tend to be a well-educated bunch and as such, we don't see anyone accidentally buying an EV to find out that it doesn't meet their needs. In this respect, BMW's test could be considered quite realistic.

The important thing is to understand that for many people, an EV still isn't a suitable method of transport for reasons of cost or because their longer journeys are regular enough to make it inconvenient. BMW's test results are very positive for EV ownership and as an example of how well EVs can work to the wider public, but we can't scorn those for whom EV ownership still isn't a realistic option.

 

One of the most telling figures of the test? Despite loving the MINI E, 55 percent of the testers said they'd wait another few years before buying an electric car. BMW isn't quite there yet - could the i3 turn the tide?

[BMW]






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Comments (10)

  1. fb_100001278055003 avatar Trudee Lunden Posted: 8/5/2011 10:02am PDT

    Hi Antony - thanks for the review. My latest Tweet speaks directly to your analysis: "EV buyers tend to be a well-educated bunch". After selling NEVs for a year I learned that education is PARAMOUNT to EV sales, alleviating the tech fears & creating an empowering consumer mindset. As for colder/hotter climates, manufacturers should take note from MCEV dealer Steve Mayeda on how to create battery warmers (& coolers I suppose) to enhance charging during weather extremes.

    What most surprises me about the study is how much people actually enjoyed the Mini E EV driving experience. Yes, I'm an EVangelist, but when I test drove one at the AltCar Expo I found the regenerative breaking a bit too stiff for my own tastes...not smooth like the LEAF.
     
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  2. fb_100002544459353 avatar Ramon Leigh Posted: 8/6/2011 4:38am PDT

    The problem here is the failure to realize that most people actually have to do things during their normal day that require more than just going to work and then home. And locales where driving distances are healthy
    make many itinararies impossible if dealing with less than 100 miles. 100 miles is not very far in many locales. Many in California and here as well, have two way commutes way over 100 miles. And then there's
    always the possibility of a detour.... EVs such as these are obviously only as very, very expensive second cars. And those "gas savings" are likely to more than disappear when buy-a-new-battery-pack time comes along. Claiming inexpensive operation and not mentioning battery replacement costs is total fraud, in my book.
     
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  3. Tommolog avatar Tom Moloughney Posted: 8/6/2011 10:18am PDT

    "Claiming inexpensive operation and not mentioning battery replacement costs is total fraud, in my book"
    Agreed, all costs must be considered. The more you evaluate all costs, the better the argument is for EV's. Brakes for example. I have 63,000 miles on my MINI-E and still have the original brake pads. At 63,000 miles all I've needed is a few tire replacements and wiper blades. My fuel savings is close to $5k at this point and by 100,000 miles it will be around $8,000. Couple that with no oil changes, no tune ups, no rotting muffler & exhaust to replace, let alone timing belts, fuel pumps and the hundreds of self-destructing parts that make up an ice and I'll be way, way ahead when it comes time for a new battery. Your FUD is getting old
     
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  4. fb_100001278055003 avatar Trudee Lunden Posted: 8/8/2011 10:57am PDT

    @Tom - You are so right! When you add in long range maintenance costs for EVs vs. ICE cars, EVs win hands down. Auto manufacturers do not "plug" this truth because it will set a tailspin in motion for their industry. Fact: car dealers earn most of their income by selling parts and/or service (not cars!) Mechanics: now is the time to update your skills and learn battery / EV technology.
     
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  5. fb_100001280320465 avatar Ev Now-now Posted: 8/7/2011 9:53am PDT

    Ramon, let us say you need to replace the battery after 8 years (that is what Nissan warrantees, so expect to see the trend continue). Do you or anyone really know how much the battery will cost in 2019 ?

    More importantly, do you know how much gas will cost in 2019 ? Do you even know whether there will be enough gas for everyone ?
     
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  6. James Davis avatar James Davis Posted: 8/6/2011 11:01am PDT

    If you bought your EV right now, by the time you needed to replace your battery, it would probably only cost as much as your acid battery does now. There is incredible advancements in electric batteries and mass producing those, like Ford is now doing for their electric; you will not have to refinance your house to buy the battery. Even at $20 thousand for those minis, and that is still overpriced, you will be saving a fortune in labor and parts that the EV will not need that the ICE will need within a ten year period.

    If Telsa brought their EV price down to the family budget, you would never have to buy another car for decades or probably not even a battery.
     
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  7. James Davis avatar James Davis Posted: 8/6/2011 11:13am PDT

    After these two tests, I only have one problem with the Minis...better make that two problems since they are way overpriced, and that is - they are too ugly. They look like they belong in a circus with clowns crawling out of them. Why is it so hard for the builder to make those cars creative and appealing to artistic (no, I didn't say autistic) people? It looks like you need to fire all your design engineers and start over.
     
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  8. Roy_H avatar Roy Harvie Posted: 8/6/2011 1:48pm PDT

    "81 percent said they preferred plugging-in to filling up at a gas station"
    Wow, that means 19% of the EV drivers prefer to go to a gas station instead of filling up at the convenience of their own home.... Unbelievable!
     
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  9. fb_61206378 avatar Antony Ingram Posted: 8/7/2011 11:19am PDT

    Heh, very droll, I'm sure you knew what I meant ;) On the other hand, it does make you wonder about the 19% who actually prefer going to a gas station and filling up their regular car rather than coming home each night and plugging in an EV. Even if you enjoy internal combustion I can't see anyone enjoying the "gas station experience"...
     
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  10. fb_100001663981238 avatar Daniel Chavez Moran Posted: 8/10/2011 10:34am PDT

    I look forward to seeing more sporty electric cars. minis are so much fun and BMW needs to step up the electric game!
     
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